Nate is Summer League MVP

If a third-year player wins Summer League MVP honors and no one is watching, does it make a difference? Maybe it does, if he's currently on the bubble to make his team's roster.

That is exactly Isiah Thomas' problem; he's got 17 guys who can make his roster, 16 who probably deserve it, and only 15 spots. Zeke will be trying all summer to make a move so he doesn't have to cut anyone. But if it comes down to letting two of his players walk, I was almost positive before the summer league that Nate Robinson was going to be one of them (along with Jerome James).

Now, it's not so easy. Despite the fact that he was playing against some pretty marginal competition, Robinson showed flashes of his old self, scored in huge chunks, and added a bit of real point guarding skills as well. Is it enough to put him ahead of rock-solid (if unspectacular) Mardy Collins in the depth chart? Probably not (Collins was also supposed to play, but was a scratch after knee surgery). But Nate probably showed enough to get himself a roster spot, or - more likely - generate interest from another team for a trade where the Knicks trade quantity for quality.

Of course, Nate could theoretically stay on the Knicks even if they make a move, or if Demetrius Nichols spends a year in Europe. But I wouldn't want to mix his foolish behavior with a hot-head like Randolph Morris. And if the Knicks somehow manage to pick up Ron Artest, Nate would be a dangerous spark next to those boxes of oily rags.

In Other Summer League News
Although there were a few third-year players other than Robinson there, everyone really wanted to see the newly drafted rookies. And the Knicks' picks didn't disappoint. Demetrius Nichols (6-8 SG, 53rd overall) stole the show early, with some high-percentage moves in the paint, some sweet outside shooting and - you're not going to believe this - some passable perimeter defense. If the injury bug bites Q and Marbury again for the third straight year, Nichols should get some serious consideration off the bench - maybe even if they're healthy. How badly could the Knicks have used a perimeter scorer and defender last year?

Wilson Chandler (6-5 SF, 23rd overall) was no slouch either; I see what the scouting reports that likened him to Renaldo Balkman were getting at. He's not the exact same player, but he brings a speed, intensity, and intelligence to the game which indicates he'll eventually be a fine NBA player. Fortunately for Knick fans, he also has an outside shot.

Speaking of Renaldo Balkman, he played exactly like you would expect a successful rookie to play against inferior competition. No surprises on his excellent all-around game.

And finally, Randolph Morris showed he has some skills after all, and will be a fine back-up center off the bench, although I expect Zach Randolph to shift to center just as much as we see Morris come off the bench when Curry comes out. Morris is just as slow as he was last year, although he hasn't exactly had a lot of time to improve. His rebounding and defense were passable, although - as with all summer games - you have to look at his competition. The Vegas League has become more of a guard and swingman exhibition than a place to improve your bigs, as the physicality of the real NBA interior game just isn't there.

As for the rest of the squad, they were essentially throw-ins, and won't be making the already crowded roster. But thanks to the Knicks' perfect summer league record, they did manage to get valuable NBA exposure, which is all they could have expected in the first place.

In all, congratulations to the Knicks for going undefeated and to Robinson for his MVP.